Sometimes Things Just Don't Work For Me

Okay, so all day yesterday I thought of what craft/project to do to today. I found this awesome idea from pinterest. Marbled Nails! I know. Sounds awesome. In theory. Now It may work for others but it DID NOT work for me. I ended up with nail polish all over my hands and a big mess. It may just be me. So here is my challenge I guess... try it out. If it works for you let me know. I think the idea is fabulous, but for me sometimes things should just stay an idea. This is one of those times. I tried it multiple times. It can obviously be done, but I want to know if the "average jane" can do it. Leave a comment with your experience good or bad. The link is below the picture. She obviously did it, but I wanna know if you have to be a professional or something... or maybe just not me :)

heynicenails.com

Going Natural Bombshell

So I gotta tell ya. I started about 4 posts, but I kept getting busy house shopping and taken care of my little man. So here is something that helped me get ready yesterday.I really wanted a fabulous post since my lovely blog here got featured on Love Notes By Lauryn thank-you doll! Unfortunately life and other plans stopped that. So yes, it's a beauty post. It's a natural make-up curly hair look.  I used two sites. Now, if any of you know me. I'm a black eyeliner girl (a tasteful black eyeliner girl) I have to be pretty darn tan or going swimming for me to skip the black liner. You may recognize my inspiration from Friday Night Lights or Charlies Angels. Miss Minka Kelly. She is sooo naturally beautiful. I know this is kind of a summer look, but I thought it'd be a last summer look.

Visit Glamour for exact directions (but they are very slim)

Make-up: Bronze eye shadow, all over bronzer, darker brown next to lash line, mascara.

Now I got inspired by here hair, but the site didn't really tell you how to pull that off except to advertise a hair product.

So I turned to my favorite hair guru. How to curl your hair with a curling iron: full head tutorial. Now I knew how to do what she was doing for the most part. It's how I curl my hair anyways, but she did point out a couple good tips. Like how to hold the curling iron in the back, how to make it so the top layer doesn't make you look like "Curly Sue", and how much of the ends to leave out.

Now my hair is a little longer than hers so my turned out a little different.  You guys can laugh at me all you want, but I tried to pull the Minka Kelly pose for this post (but clothed). I did it for you. You're welcome. 

Just a side note. My hubby dear was not at work, so since Luke isn't quite to the picture-taking-stage I did this my big ol' camera by myself in the bathroom. Please excuse the quality and the myspace style photo.

I know,

minka kelly 

spot on right?

I know the photo quality is impeccable and the modeling...? 

HA HA! :) (please forgive me, but I had to show the natural look)

This whole blog is about me doing and then sharing. 

Please be kind.

All links from pinterest.com

 Love you Dolls!

Chicken Bruschetta on Ciabatta Rolls

This is a super yummy recipe if I say so myself. It's quick, easy, and looks fancy. It's great for when you have friends over and want to look fancy sham-ancy. Did I mention it is sooooooooooo yummy!

Ingredients: 

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

4 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 Tablespoons of  Rosemary Garlic

1 Cup of Bruschetta

4 Ciabatta Rolls 

4 Slices of Provolone (or cheese of choice)

Step 1:Prepare

I used the George Forman Grill to prepare the chicken. You could cook it on the stove in a skillet also, but I prefer the grill just because it's quicker and helps smash down the chicken for the sandwich. I turned my grill all the way up and let it warm. I took the four chicken breasts and put them in a glass pan. I drizzled the extra virgin olive oil over both sides of the chicken pieces (I didn't measure out how much, but it was roughly a tablespoon on each piece). Then I seasoned the chicken with the rosemary garlic. You can season it however you wish, but I found the rosemary garlic paired very well with the bruschetta. I just sprinkled the chicken with it. Once again, I did not measure but it was roughly 4 tablespoons. 

 Step 2: Cut-up The Chicken

I filleted the chicken and then cut it into small pieces. This doesn't have to be cut into perfect squares, but make sure it's small enough for a sandwich. 

 Step 3: Cook Chicken

I spread the pieces across the grill and pulled the top part down. On the grill it only took a minute or two on each side. If you cook it in a pan just make sure that you cook the chicken til it's completely cooked.

 Step 4: Prepare Rolls

Cut your rolls in half. You can toast them before if you desire. I just warmed them in the oven for a few minutes with the cheese on the bottom piece. 

 Step 5: Put It Together

After toasting the rolls I spread the chicken on top of the cheese and then put about a quarter cup of bruschetta on top. I like a lot of bruschetta where my husband enjoys a little less. You may want to make your own bruschetta, but I was trying to keep this short and sweet. 

 ENJOY! 

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.

Special thanks to my parents who showed me this lovely sandwich.

Hair Makeover

So today I tried a new hair-do. I got it from a fun website called the small things. She is darling! She has lots of fun hair ideas and other posts. I also tried her "bouncy curled under" look. I love it. It made my hair look way more full. Today I tried the elegant half-up. It only took my 5 minutes and turned out really cute. She has easy to follow videos and is always willing to help on emails. 

The Small Things: Elegant Half-Up

So cute. I found her on pinterest.com

If you aren't a member. Join.

I'm happy to send an invite if you want me to. 

1 Dress+1 Dress=1 FAB Dress!

My fun find is from a darling, talented, beautiful girl (who I happened to go to high school with). 

She took two cute dresses and turned it into one FAB dress!

She claims to have no sewing experience so maybe this is something we can all try.

Check it out! 

I'm also going to feature her darling blog on my button list also featured below. 

Cute Fabric For Cheap Online?

I'm always looking for darling fabric, but can never find any in the local stores. (Although, I've been told the fabric store in Bountiful on Main Street has some cute stuff.)

ANYWHO.

I stumbled across this on my favorite site pinterest.com

Check it out the humble nest: great places to get fabric

Pinterest

I love Pinterest!

I AM OBSESSED! love it. love it. love it.
Thanks to pinterest I had fun getting ready today.
Take a glander

outfit: INSPIRED BY LA VIE PETITE (ALSO BLOG), make-up: DAY TIME SMOKEY, hair :MESSY BUN.

 

I don't look very happy, but I am I promise. Just trying to show the make up and hair. :) 

Oh did I mention I found my next DIY. 

vanilla brown sugar body scrub

(i'll let you know how it goes)

Feeling Fall: Pumpkin Pie

So my husband loves fall. He loves the fact that her can wear hoodies because it's "hoodie weather", he loves the smell of fall spices that I put in my scentsy, and most of all he loooooves pumpkin pie.  He likes it to be made just like his grandmother and mom make it.  I can't say I blame him it is delicious. It's pretty simple.



Step 1: Buy a can of Libby's Pumpkin
This is the most important part. Follow all the instructions on the can. Ingredients, mixing directions, and baking directions. The only thing that you do different is add 1 tsp of nutmeg and a 1/2 cup more of sugar to the dry mixture. That's the "Chapman/Deans/McGregor" twist to things. It may seem small but it makes a HUGE difference. ( I would write all the directions from the can, but that seems silly since you'll have to buy the can of pumpkin anyways. Call me lazy or call me genius.)




Step 2: Prep your crust
We just buy the Pillsbury pie crust because it's simple to use. Lay it out over the pie pans (as shown above). Cut the extra off with a butter knife around the edges. Then that your index and middle finger and make a small "peace sign" and take your other index finger of your opposite had and pull up the crust between the "peace sign". I tried to take a picture, but it was hard to get both hands since I needed one to take the picture.





Step 3: Pour in filling and bake
Be careful when putting the filling. It says it's just for 2 pies but I swear you could make 3 pies. I saved a little to put in once I got it in the actually got them in the oven because I always spill the filling trying to get it in the oven.  Follow baking instructions on the back of the "Libby's" can.



Step 4: Cool Pies
Place pies on cooling racks for 2 hours and then enjoy. I like to buy cream and whip it with an electric mixer adding as much sugar as I want to taste. I recommend that over any canned whipped cream. Just a warning though, once you have the real stuff there is no going back...



(sorry it's blurry)

It's honestly the best pumpkin pie in the entire world if I do say so myself.


Special thanks to Jan McGregor (my lovely mother-in-law) who always reminds me of the secret ingredients and measurements :) 

Wood Creations

So I was out with my sister-in-law and her friend and she told us about this cute little wood craft store. It's darling and they do "Girls Night Out" where you pick a craft and you can use all their paint, paper, and other materials. Plus they have some darling ideas. Check out the class schedule and address. It looks like a good time. Also, if you don't have time to go to the class you can always just get the wood from their store. They have lots of choices. Surf it up on their site dolls.
Wood Creations: Class Schedule

(just a few of their fall crafts)

No Sew Tutu (Well maybe a little)

Disclaimer: I sewed a tiny bit. I know. It's like breaking the rules of the no sew tutu. 

These tutu's are sooooo darling. My sweet little niece turned 4 and she loves dress up so I thought this would be perfect. I love them on babies too, but due the fact that I only have little boys around I figured it'd be best if I just made one for my niece.

Sites I used:
1: No Sew Tutu Tutorial  This is a video which was very helpful for the cutting part. I first followed the site below for everything, but their way of cutting is too time consuming. This is the only thing I got from this video.

2: Cut Out and Keep: Tutu Tutorial  This site is where I got the material list, measurements for tulle and the elastic band (the no sew uses a ribbon vs. the band. that is the main difference between the two), and how to tie on the tulle. Very simple.

What I Did:


Step 1: Materials
6 yards of tulle (I used two different colors so I got 3 yards in each but you can play around with that)
1/2 Elastic Band
Thread
Needle
Scissors

Step 2: Cut your tulle
I cut the strips so they were 6 inches in width and followed the video (the first link) on how to cut it even though the video says 3 inches. Width for the tulle is truly based on what you prefer. I wanted more of a ballerina look so I did it thicker. I started out with the second link for cutting and it was very time consuming when it didn't need to be.

Step 3: Tie on your tulle
It's hard to explain this step without pictures and the second site does it perfectly. I took 3 strips, 2 of one color 1 of the other and looped it over the band. The you take the bottom and wrap it around the back of the band. LIKE I SAID A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND WITH PICTURES. REFER TO SITE 2. I switched back and forth between which colors I had two of and which one I had one of which you can see below.

Step 4: Sew the band together
I just hand sewed the band together. It only took a few stitches. Very simple. I prefer the band just because I think it brought it together cuter for the "ballerina tutu". The absolutely no sew version uses ribbon. Just whatever you prefer. I think the ribbon would be cute if you were doing more of a "fairy tutu", but that's just me.

Step 5: Cover-up the band 
Just push the knots around the band and even out the loops they are all about the same size.

Step 6: Try it out
My sweet niece was already dressed up in her princess dress, but she said she would try it out over her dress. What a doll.

happy birthday Evelyn dear! happy birthday to you!

feel free to leave a comment if you have questions. stick to the two links and you will be fine! :)




thank-you kati hansen for the idea :)

THE Fashionista!

Although this is a "creative" site. I love this blog. I think fashion can be creative.

May I just say this girl is a fashionista! L-O-V-E HER  STYLE. LOVE IT!

I suggest everyone check it out! 

If I'm feeling daring I may or may not post a recreation.

la vie petite.

perfecto. 

Did I mention she posts where she gets everything and it's usually at places like Target, Ross, The Loft, Forever 21, Old Navy, The Gap, etc...

Even I can afford that kinda fashion!